England have the Aussies rattled

Last updated at 15:12 24 August 2005

Ahead of the fourth Test, with the series balanced at 1-1, Mail online's Pete Chayney says England still have the momentum and Australia are feeling the pressure.

Cricket fans everywhere are currently mulling the same questions. Are England about to face an Australian backlash? Or will Michael Vaughan's tight-knit unit secure their place in the pantheon of Ashes history?

The Australians, never shy in coming forward when it comes to singing the praises of their sporting teams, were expecting a tough Ashes series, but not this tough.

Shane Warne says the pressure is on England. But it's Australia that are the best team in the world and they have it all to prove.

The Australian team, and those former players close to the current squad such as Michael Slater and Darren Lehmann, have closed ranks, with a rallying call of, "Write us off at your peril, it's still 1-1, if we play to our best, as we're about to, then we'll beat you."

The Aussies are rattled.

And of course it would make little sense to dismiss the chances of the long-standing best side in world cricket, with proven top class performers.

But out-of-form Jason Gillespie has been battered out of the side by England's batsmen and hasn't been replaced with a "Mr Reliable" in Michael Kasprowicz, as may have been the case in the past.

The Australians are taking a risk, the Aussies feel the need to take a risk, and have picked Shaun Tait, who becomes the first Australian bowler to make his Test debut in an Ashes series since Matt Nicholson's bow in 1998-99.

Moreover Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist are just two players that have commented on the hostile nature of the home crowds.

But such atmospheres can't be new to the Australians. Who can forget the abuse hurled at the stricken Simon Jones in Brisbane in 2002? Is the tension getting to them?

It's true that some of the key Australians, such as Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist, haven't played well. But that is because the England bowlers, in conjunction with astute pre-prepared game plans, are not letting them.

Both sides are under immense pressure and it will be those that handle it best that will ultimately triumph in this thrilling contest.

England missed a real chance by failing to overcome Australia's brave resistance at Old Trafford, but don't be fooled into thinking that it's the turning point of the series.

But the momentum hasn't shifted, the tourists are still on the back foot.